Ford ‘Megazilla’ What Is It?
Ford needed an engine to replace its gas-guzzling V10 engine for truck applications. Its answer was “Godzilla,” the 7.3-liter V8. It was stabbed into Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks beginning in 2020 and continues to be Ford’s largest engine available for trucks. But there have always been rumors about a more powerful “Megazilla” engine floating around Dearborn. With a Megazilla patent filing this week, we now know it is coming, but what is it?
What’s the advantage of the Ford 7.3-liter F-250 V8?
Ford’s 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 engine has many pluses besides more power. That’s why Ford favors it so highly. Because its other V8 engine platform, the modular motors, are so wide and use overhead camshafts, it is bulkier as well.
So besides offering the Godzilla in Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks, it also makes it available as a crate engine. Because the overhead valves are pushrod activated, as opposed to a dual-overhead cam application, it is a more versatile engine for aftermarket applications. And it has the grunt to go with the horsepower, too.
How much power does Ford’s 7.3-liter F-250 have?
Ford’s naturally aspirated Godzilla engine cranks out 430 hp at 5,500 rpm, and 475 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. With that, it is easy for aftermarket enthusiasts to improve horsepower and overall performance. And that’s partially due to Ford leaving some room for more power. And that’s where the Megazilla comes in.
Ford, and most manufacturers, are turbocharger happy. And why not, it is an external addition that makes any engine more powerful. But like we said, the Ford F-250 Godzilla engine is naturally aspirated. So what if Ford offered a twin-turbocharged version of the Godzilla? Say, with maybe 1,000 hp?
That is the most likely scenario for what the Megazilla is. Tuners are already adapting turbocharger setups to the 7.3-liter, so there are already Megazilla-like engines already out there. But turbocharging isn’t the only way to huff an engine. There’s also supercharging.
Turbocharge or supercharge?
Before 2020 there hadn’t been a factory supercharged pickup ever. The Ram TRX was the first to break the ice in 2020, offering a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8. Ford has since announced the Raptor will get a supercharged version of its 5.2-liter V8, ditching the EcoBoost V6.
Whipple already has a 3.0-liter supercharger kit for F-250 trucks. It increases power to 700 hp and 750 lb-ft of torque. That is exactly what Ford is getting out of the Raptor 5.2-liter. So the Megazilla has to improve on that by plenty. If Ford can grunt out 700 hp with its 5.2-liter, what would forced induction do for the 7.3-liter Godzilla?
Right now, the most likely scenario is that the Megazilla will be a crate motor. But in spite of the electrification of everything, there is still a horsepower race happening with gas-powered vehicles. And a 900 to 1,000 horsepower V8 bonked into a Ford F-250 would surely continue adding fuel to that race.
